Royal College of Nursing Issues New Guidance On Internet Usage

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 01 Oct 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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The Royal College of Nursing has issued new advice for nurses on using the internet.

The RCN's legal guidance reminds nurses that actions taken at home on the internet could potentially leave them in breach of the law on defamation and harassment, as well as their employer's policy on internet use.

Nurses should not post damaging remarks about their employer, clients or other employees, according to the guidance. This kind of use of internet sites could breach an employer's internet policy, harassment policy or harm the employer's reputation and lead to a breach of employment contract.

Social network sites in particular raise concerns about privacy, according to the guidance. With links to other people's pages commonplace, nurses should be very careful about the information they post online.

Dr Peter Carter, of the RCN, said:

"The internet is useful in a variety of ways and while we know that people use social network sites to keep up to date with their friends, it is vital that nurses do not compromise their professional status in doing so. Nurses should be mindful that the law around defamation and harassment applies wherever you may be. Equally nurses must not post any information that could lead to the identification of a patient.

"Of course the internet is fun for sharing thoughts but nurses should be aware that they must not discredit their employer or fellow employees on a social network site - doing so may well mean a breach of the employer's internet policy."

Today's guidance includes do's and don'ts about using IT including:

- Do always read and comply with your employer's policy on IT use in the workplace
- Do observe your employer's bullying, harassment and dignity policies when composing emails to colleagues at work
- Don't under any circumstances identify patients in your care, or post information that may lead to the identification of a patient
- Don't identify your employer on your profile page of a social network site
- Don't make disparaging remarks about your organization, its clients or fellow employees on a social network site

Notes

1. 'Legal advice for RCN members using the internet' can be found here.

Source
Royal College of Nursing